TV & Showbiz

A new Bridget Jones film is on the way – but a key actor won’t be returning for the fourth instalment

It might be a shock to some of you - anyone who's read all the books, less so.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 10th April 2024

The classic British rom-com film series Bridget Jones is back for a fourth instalment and while plenty of fans are obviously buzzing, a key character won’t be returning to the cast.

The latest movie in the franchise, Bridget Jones’s Baby, was released back in 2016 and received fairly solid reviews for the most part following its 12-year hiatus and it looks as though the return was successful enough to adapt the most recent book as well.

Based on the 2013 novel of the same name, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, the upcoming return of the often overwhelmed, awkward and hopeless romantic lead character is set to see Renée Zellweger reprise role alongside key love interest Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver.

However, while Emma Thompson and others are also expected to return, veteran English actor Colin Firth will not be starring in Bridget Jones 4.

The iconic rom-com trio is no more.

As per a report by Deadline and as fans of the books will already know, 63-year-old Firth – who famously played the series’ other main heartthrob Mark Darcy in the first three films – isn’t part of the latest project as his character doesn’t appear in the latest title.

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Without giving too much away about the story, especially since author Helen Fielding hasn’t given away too much about how faithful the latest Hollywood movie will stay to her original written work, let’s just say the iconic British comedy and modern romance character is in a different place in her life.

However, the entertainment outlet did go on to reveal previously unknown details about the story’s adaptation for the big screen, confirming that Love Actually actor Chiwetel Ejiofor will be popping up in this one, as well as Netflix’s One Day star Leo Woodall.

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We’re still not over the latter saying that us Mancs talk all sexy so we’re absolutely here for it.

why is colin firth not in the new bridget jones film?
Sorry to all the Darcy die-hards, but there’ll be no Firth in the fourth Bridget Jones film.

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Again, the details surrounding the rest of the film are still pretty scarce at these early stages but fans will have known a script was in the works after Fielding mentioned it on a Radio Times podcast in 2022.

While diligent readers who are completely up to date with everything printed so far can at least have a good idea of what to expect from the new Bridget Jones film, the rest of you will have to wait.

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As for exactly how long you’ll have to wait, well, that’s still kind of up in the air too. Although it has already been slated for Valentine’s Day 2025 in the US and international cinemas, as well as on the Peacock streaming platform, the UK release date is yet to be revealed.

Will you be going to watch the sequel?

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Featured Images — Universal Pictures